"What's keeping you awake at night?" A friend of mine asks this question when she wants to get the to the heart of what's on the minds of the people she loves. The worries that keep us awake at night can point to the core of who we are. What's on my mind tonight? The […]

When your child decides to audition for a musical, brace yourself and gird your strength. Because it will not be easy on your heart. I think offering my own audition may have been less stressful than sending my son into the audition room with his monologue and his 16-bars of prepared Broadway show tunes. It’s […]

”You realize you're never going to be invited to speak at this writer’s conference, right?” We are peers, each of us learning the trade, and I felt more than a little bit dashed.  Somehow even a complete stranger can speak into the likelihood of your dreams if you’re not careful. The thing is, I really, really, […]

It was the Friday before Labor Day in my kindergarten classroom. Ever aware of the "teachable moment," I wanted to enlighten my students as to why they would get an extra "stay at home day" this weekend. I said, "You see, Labor Day is the day when we honor all the people who serve and […]

It's not that I don't know that someone else should pick up the dog poop around here. It's not that I don't know that responsibility builds character. I know boys should fold clothes. I know boys should sort laundry. I know boys should make their beds in the morning. I know boys should take their […]

Tricia, you mentioned Ohio. But where in Ohio are you going?   When are you coming?   What's the story, and can we come? Here's the story, my friends. I am traveling to Ohio this weekend for a women's retreat in a Cleveland hotel, sponsored by the unbelievably gracious women of West Hill Baptist Church. […]